ACF Update 10/5/20

 

Hi all,
Tim Brown has started "cutting in" trails in the ACF, mostly in the western portion of the harvest area, although we've been slowed down by recent rainy weather. Acorns are mature and falling, which is exciting! Once of our main goals for the ACF is to increase the abundance of two species: red oak and white pine. Both of these species are more successful at regenerating when soils have been "scarified" (the top couple inches have been "scuffed-up") which is one of the main reasons that we're doing this job in the summer/fall, rather than the winter. With red oak specifically, burying acorns in just an inch of soil by dragging treetops and limbs over them will increase their chance of germinating from about 2% to around 50% by protecting them from the many critters who want to eat them. You can also replicate this approach in your own woods – I do this on my own land in Bolton on heavy acorn years, poking a whole in the ground with a pointy stick and kicking an acorn into it. It's fun to do, and a great activity for kids! At the ACF we are also leaving treetops and branches high, messy and "un-lopped," hoping to protect the red oak seedlings that regenerate, which are a favorite browse for white-tailed deer.

Last week, I posted a short update video about the project on my YouTube channel, here: https://youtu.be/THGVqxqgx0U. Stay tuned for more video updates and recordings of the virtual events we do about the work at the ACF on the Andrews Community Forest playlist on the Chittenden County Forester YouTube channel, here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWk3DKdWmNIb5VOql7MqxJ09GqXg0kPVl, including a recording of last week's event on managing forests with Emerald Ash Borer in mind, here: https://youtu.be/zJYOXki2VKA .

You can also listen to Andrea Shortsleeve of VT Fish and Wildlife and myself being interviewed about the project at the ACF through the lens of wildlife habitat on WDEV's The Dave Gram Show, here: https://wdevradio.com/forest-management-vermonts-native-birds/.

Follow along throughout the project on Front Porch Forum, ACF's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AndrewsCommunityForest), by joining my email list (send an email to ethan.tapper@vermont.gov to join) and attending some of the many virtual events from our upcoming events series this fall our next event will be on 10/13 with Audubon Vermont, focusing on managing forests for bird habitat -- details to follow.
Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions!

J. Ethan Tapper
Chittenden County Forester
Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation
(802)-585-9099
Ethan.Tapper@vermont.gov
If you would like to be kept informed about forest and forestry-related events in Chittenden County, please let me know and I will add you to my email list